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AbstractBackground With the introduction of RSV immunoprophylaxis, the contribution and severity of other respiratory viruses require a more comprehensive investigation in different patient cohorts. Methods We performed a retrospective study of hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections at a tertiary pediatric center between 2018 to 2024. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of severe disease were analyzed. Results Of 35,943 respiratory specimens, 16,866 (46.9%) tested positive for at least one virus. Clinical data from 2,424 hospitalized children were analyzed. RSV primarily affected infants (median age 5 months, IQR 2–29), whereas human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and influenza virus affected older children (median 26 months, IQR 8–54, and 57 months, IQR 23–108; pp0.05). In adjusted analyses, RSV was associated with higher odds ratios of requiring respiratory support (OR 6.20, 95% CI 4.60–8.85), followed by hMPV (OR 5.90, 95% CI 3.42–11.7). These associations were stronger than those observed for influenza (OR 2.78, 95% CI 2.07–3.92) and parainfluenza viruses (OR 3.15, 95% CI 2.06–5.13). Conclusion RSV remains the leading cause of severe respiratory disease in early childhood, but hMPV is a substantial contributor in older children with comparable severity and should be considered in future prevention strategies.
Aykac et al. (Mon,) studied this question.